Table-cloth support.



B. S. BARBER.

TABLE CLOTH SUPPORT.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 28. 9'12.

1 77,827. PatenbedSept. 3, 191&

amwnto'v w Guyana:

NrrEI s 'riA'lrEs BURLAN BARBER, or MIINVONKILLINOIVS;

TABLE-CLOTH SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3 1918 Application filed November 28, 1917. Serial No.204,390.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURLAN S. B ARBER, a citizen of the United States,resldlng at v Minonk, in the county of Woodford, State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Table-Cloth Support; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved table cloth support, and one ofthe objects of the invention is the provision of an improved support ofthis kind, which may be manufactured fora small cost and sold at areasonable profit. I

On large farms or ranches, the food in dishes is placed on the table,and heretofore a table cloth or the like is thrown thereover, and whenthe hands working on the farm or ranch come in at meal timethe cloth isremoved, allowing access to the food on the table. In this way the clothvery often contacts with the food itself.

Therefore, another object of the invention is the provision of animproved, simple, and eflicient support, preferably one at each end ofthe table, or as many as may be desired, consisting of a single lengthof yieldable wire bent to form an arch and provided with spring coils,

and having-means at its ends to clamp in engagement with the oppositelongitudinal portion of the marginal edge of the table top, to supportthe table cloth in a raised or arched position over the food.

In practical fields the detail of construe:

tion may necessitate alterations falling within the scope of what isclaimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts ashereinafter set forth shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a table top disclosing the improvedsupport applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the table top showing thesupport in elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of one end of one ofthe supports.

Referrin more especially, to the drawings, 1 des1gnates the support as awhole be supported in an arch which consists of a single length ofyieldable or spring wire, which may be bent in any suitable shape,preferably arched as illustrated. The single length ofwire is providedwith one or more spring coils or twists 2 in order to insure additionalresiliency or yieldability. Each end of the wire is bent at 3, 4 and 5,thereby forming an arm 6 consisting of double thicknesses of wire, toengage the upper face of the table top. The wire beyond the bend 5 isagain bent as at 7, and beyond this bend the wire is turned in the formof a circular clamping portion or arm 8. In this manner, viewing thesupport in side elevation, a U-shaped end is formed, to straddlethe edgeportion of a table top. In other words the circular arm or portion 8engages the under face of the table top, whereas the arm 6 engages theupper face of the table top, thereby holding the support 1 rigidly 111position, there being a support at each end of the table, whereby thetable cover may position over the food. If desired one table cloth mayengage the table top proper with the food thereon, while another clothmay be thrown over the supports. .In this way the clamping members atthe ends of the support may hold the cloth that contacts with the tabletop as well as supporting the second cloth over the food. The opposingand abutting parts of each looped arm 6 may be separated or sprung apartto receive and clamp a portion of the table spread therebetween, therebypreventing accidental displacement of the spread. a

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis:

A' table spread support comprising a frame constructed from a singlelength of spring wire material and being arched and resilient and toextend from one side of the table top to the other, said frame havespring coils, one near each end, each end of the frame beyond the coilbeing bent upon itself to form a loop arm overhanging the upper surfaceof the table top, the opposite adjacent sides of each looped arm adaptedto be separated to receive and clamp therebetween said tablespread,-said end portion beyond the loop arm being bent U-sha ed to d et e g P rt n 9f the rate t p,

the lower arm of said U-shaped portion terminatingrin an enlargedcircular spring ring having an unattached extremity and adapted toyielda'bly engage under the table top, whereby the arched frame may besupported in an upright position should one end of the frame bedetached.

BURLAN s. BARBER. Witnesses C. E.'RIDGE,'

H. C. BOZARTH.

copies or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

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